Hampton Man Shot To Death

18th Killin Nn Places City At Rate Set For All Of '91

August 27, 1992|By CHERYL L. REED Daily Press

NEWPORT NEWS — Just before an afternoon thunderstorm boomed through the neighborhood Wednesday, shots rang out and a man slumped on a back stoop.

``I thought it was thunder,'' said 76-year-old Margaret Radcliffe. ``I looked out the door and all I seen was people trying to get out of the way. That's when I knew something was wrong. That's when I locked my doors.''

Next door, at 712 19th St., a 42-year-old man lay on his side and hollered for help. Police later identified him as Hunter N. Johnson of the 100 block of Freeman Drive in Hampton.

For police, Wednesday's killing was the 18th so far this year - reaching the mark set for all of 1991.

A neighbor at 714 19th St. was making rolls in her kitchen at 3:40 when she heard eight to 10 shots, looked out her window, saw the man and ran outside to see what was wrong.

``He said, `Help me. Help me,' " recounted the woman, who would not identify herself.

``He was holding his side, and there was a little blood,'' she said. ``I didn't touch him.''

She said she ran inside and called 911. Then she gathered her children.

``It makes me nervous,'' she said of the slaying as she held her 3-year-old grandchild. ``It looks like it's time to get the hell out of here. This was too close.''

Police are looking for a 1970-ish yellow Monte Carlo that was seen leaving the area. Police believe the car carried Virginia license plates with the last three digits 668 or 666.

The woman who called police said she had seen the shooting victim in the neighborhood before but never at the house where he died.

Neighbors said the neighborhood normally is quiet. They didn't know the person who lives in the house.

As detectives and a medical examiner counted the bullets in the body, more than 100 people gathered around the house, the back fence and neighboring yards.

About six kittens scampered near the body. An old, defunct washing machine rested next to the small cement stoop where Johnson took his last breath.

Stuffed garbage bags were stacked at the edge of the yard, which was filled with several picnic tables, beer cans and a large puddle of water. A realty sign stood in the front yard.

Many of the onlookers were young children who joked about the shooting.

One boy's 13-year-old brother was shot by a stray bullet in April while sitting on his bicycle just a few blocks away.

Other boys said the shooting didn't bother them. ``He ain't one of us,'' said one small face.